Must sees in Tokyo?
 

I know there's a thread for Must Sees in Japan, but I wanted to start a thread for my own benefit and for others as for many people, Tokyo is either the first place they visit in Japan, or at least a part of their journey.
I've seen a lot of Tokyo, but I know there's an entire city and I've probably only scratched the surface. So I'd like for you guys who have been to Tokyo to list anything from Restaurants, Temples, Stores, or anything else in Tokyo that's great to do or see.

I've never lived in Tokyo but lived in Yokohahama, about an 18 minute ride from Shinagawa on the Keihin-Tohoku line so I spent a fair amount of time there.

Some personal favorites:
Kichijouji - Not far from Shinjuku station on the Chuuou line heading towards Mitaka (I think). Very nice town with a lot of great eateries and an extremely large park (for Tokyo) and very beautiful on a sunny day. Everything else thinks so too though, so it's very crowded on weekends. I went there for Hanami, it's fairly romantic because of the water and swan boats and sakura, but Japanese parents also love dumping their kids there and letting them run crazy.

Akihabara - Need I say more. They've started doing Walker's Paradise again (roads are closed except for pedestrians) so that's a great way to experience a normally crowded district. Video games, maid cafes, electronics..

Asakusa - Very touristy but a great place to buy souvenirs or sight-see because of Sensouji (the temple at the end of all the little shops) and a good place to take a picture of the Golden Poo

Ueno - Great area with a huge park with lots of museums (8 of them in total I think), a zoo (with pandas!), and nearby is Ameyoko, a street bazaar type area.

Odaibo - Good date spot. Or it was, until the power saving measures. The bridge is all lit-up, there's a ferris wheel, some nice places to eat, big Fuji TV station where you can overlook some of Tokyo..if you take the Yurikamome from Shinbashi it's a great view in transit as well

So much more..but that's all for now..it really is a massive city with so much to do and see, depending on your interests.

Thanks for the reply! I actually live in Tokyo, so truthfully I've stomped around most of those areas.What I'm more specifically looking for are actual stores, restaurants, and such that are within the places you've listed. So please, if you could, list any special places you love to go to when you're out and about the city. For example "Within Akiba: Head to Super Potato for all kinds of retro games!" and things of that nature. :vsign:

The Golden Gai area in Shinjuku is a must see I reckon. Some of the coolest little bars I've ever been to and so much choice in such a small area!

I definetly recommend Kichijoji Area for walking around, looking for good restaurants and small shops.
The Park (Inokashirakoen) is really nice especially during autum.
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On the weekend there is a art market in the park (i dont remember if it was Saturday or Sunday...) DSCF9221.jpg (image)

Now to the tips for this Area.

When you are walking from Kichijoji Station towards the Park you will walk along a small street. Exit Kichijoji Station not towards the Bus station and the arcade but towards the other side. You will end up on a smaller street. Go straight till you hit a big road. Cross the road and turn right. Take the first left and keep walking. You will hit the park after a while.
On this road there are alot of nice small places to eat or shop.
There is a place called König selling german style "curry sausage" and "hot wine"
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further towards the Park the is a yakitori stall. I haven´t tried it but my japanese friends said its quite famous and good.
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If you exit towards the Bus station enter the arcade. After a while there will be a bakery on your left selling german style bread to a decent price. There is also a good shop for t-shirts on the right, but i don´t remember the name...
At the end of the arcade there is a small restaurant on the other side of the street. You cannot really miss it because the front doesn´t fit with the other buildings. I don´t remember the name either but its a cozy place cooking south Japan Fusion food or something. Its right across the street, their menu is outside, they have some green plants outside and you will have to go up some stairs towars the windows with wooden frames.

Well i hope thats the kind of information you were looking for. Just be aware that i lived there during end of 2008, so some places might have closed down.

I also really enjoy spending time around the Kichijoji area. In Inokashira park we went to:

PEPACAFE FOREST

It is in the park at the end of the bridge where you can rent the swan paddle boats. It's open air and has really great food! Good Thai curry and lovely cold drinks.

Also in that area, if you are a knitter go to Avril. It is a world famous yarn shop, they sell yarns containing steel:

AVRIL Kichijoji Shop in Tokyo

We also had heard about and tracked down a burger joint in Shibuya called W.P.Goldburger. It was a nice casual place to end a long day eating a (really good) burger and washing it down with beer. I had the basic Whoopi Goldburger, J. had the Kevin Bacon. Map:

When I was living in Tokyo, I mostly explore places which are not found in Tourist books anymore, unless of course I really have to.

Then I joined the Waterwalks group , which unfortunately is I think no longer exist. I found this group in the Tokyo Meetup Group website and I really had fun exploring the suburbs of Tokyo/Saitama/Chiba.


Most of the time , I am in Shimokitazawa, Nakameguro, Ikebukuro, Okubo, Machida or sometimes just walking around Omotesando.


There is always something new in Tokyo :D , thinking about it , makes me wanna go back again :)

Tokyo
Attachment 11675

Can you list the names of these places?

wow.. where are this places?

(￣ー￣)

left upper
Hinohara-mura(village), Nishitama District, Tokyo
right upper
ditto
left center
haha-jima(Island),Ogasawara-mura(village), Tokyo
right center
Mitake, Ome-shi(city), Tokyo
left lower
Okutama-machi(town), Nishitama District, Tokyo
right lower
chichi-jima(Island),Ogasawara-mura(village), Tokyo

Attachment 11676

Please keep suggesting places, please! :)

In Ueno you can enjoy in a Japanese tradtional style restaurant "Nabemono" such as "sansai Kamameshi". My favourite is "Kani Kamameshi". Tamago was warm. Suhsi and Tempura and other food were fresh and delicious. A Japanese friend from Tokyo led me to this local people restaurant. The responsible is a very kind Japanese woman (she's like a lovely mother) who is caring a lot for her guests. She corrected my Japanese and she's very funny. (See address pictures as I still can't read lot of Kanji).

My Japanese friend is born in Kanda. So, i recommend you to take a walk in this districts with its interesting shops and café. I would say it's like a kind of soho quarter with some old shops.

If you are interested in art, I recommend you to visit during a late afternoon different galleries in Ginza. You will see good paintings and sculptures and you will have nice talks to interesting artists.

Have you ever tried a capsule hotel ?

Have a look here :
Tweety's peregrinations in Tokyo

If you are visiting Asakusa and the Sensoji, you have to take walk to the new Tokyo Skytree. Just look for the tallest tower you have ever seen, and walk toward it, it takes only 20 minutes or so to get there.

If you visit the fish market in Tsukiji (as many visitors do), you should visit Tsukishima. Cross the Kachidoki Bridge (the old metal drawbridge), and turn left at the first light on the other side. Follow the road straight, and it will lead you through an old-style Japanese main street. Tsukishima is famous for it's old-fashioned shops and stores, and for it's numerous Monja-yaki restaurants.

Another place to see is Tokyo Cathedral, which is fantastic Catholic Church designed by famous Japanese architect. After visiting the cathedral, visit the garden at the nearby Four Seasons Chin-zan-so hotel. This is one of the most beautiful gardens I have seen in Tokyo, and you don't have to be a hotel guest to have a look. There are some nice traditional restaurants located on the grounds of the garden, and they are as nice to eat in as they are to look at.

Thanks for the post! This is exactly the kind of stuff I'm talking about.

I would definitely go to Shibuya and go to see the crossing there if you havent already. The Starbucks across the street from the station has a great view from the second story of all the people walking across. If you are more into temples and whatnot I would go down to Kamakura, it is a little far down to the south though. Harajuku is always interesting just to see the fashion of the people who shop there.

Coming out of the Yotsuya station there is a tiny street to the right of Shinjuku Dori that is full of hole in the wall bars and restaurants. I studied at the university at the station and explored quite a few of them. The Japanese who go there were always up for conversation too.

I'll add to seeing Shibuya for the scramble cross walk and the bus terminal.







There's some very impressive buildings in the fashion district

Odaiba!
 

Have you considered Odaiba?
You can experience new and old Tokyo.
This may help:
Visit Japan 2011 (Japan travel UPDATEs) | Facebook

Everyone goes to Shibuya and Harajuku. Personally, I feel uncomfortable when I am surrounded by foreign tourists, I like to go to places off the beaten path. I often go on long hikes or bike rides in different directions with no destination in mind, just to see what I might come across.

If you want a bike, you can buy one for next to nothing on Craigslist Tokyo, or you can rent one at the Oryx car rental shop near the Yaesu exit to Tokyo Station.

Starting with the Imperial Palace in the center, you can ride to many different places. You can take the road from the Sakura exit from the palace, and follow it all the way to Tokyo Tower. There are numerous shops, shrines, and other places to see along the way.

The next street is Roppongi Dori, which will take you through Akasaka (near the US Embassy), to Roppongi, and then on to Shibuya. On this road you'll pass Roppongi Crossing, and pass by Roppongi hills. You can follow the signs to Aoyama Cemetery (worth seeing, and seldom visited by tourists). After passing through Roppongi, the road will eventually take you to Shibuya.

The next road leaves by the Hanzomon gate, and this road leads to Shinjuku. Along the way you'll pass by Yotsuya, and you'll see Yoyogi park on your left. Bear to the right before the tunnel to get to Shinjuku. You'll pass through the ni-chome area, which is Tokyo's so-called "gay" district, and then on to Shinjuku Station, crossing near the east exit.

To the other side of the palace you can go to Yasukuni shrine, which is dedicated to the Japanese soldiers who died in the war. This area is also near Kudanshita, where the Japan Budokan is located.

If you leave the Yaesu side of Tokyo station, and go up Yaesu Dori to the third traffic light, you'll find Chuo-dori, this will take you through Nihonbashi and Kanda. In Kanda there are many small streets and alleyways with many interesting food shops and stores. Past Kanda, you'll run into Akihabara. Akihabara is quite overrun with tourists nowadays, and the shops are more expensive than you'll likely find in your own country, but it is a fun enough place to visit.

After passing through Kanda, you'll go through Okachimachi and come to Ueno. If you go off to your right, you'll come to Ameyoko, which is the discount shopping district which has been a busy place since the end of the war. After visiting Ueno, you can find Asakusa Dori on the other side of Ueno station. You can follow this road to Asakusa, and places beyond, such as the Tokyo Sky tree, Kinshicho, and eventually Kasai or Urayasu.

Tokyo is not a difficult city to find your way around, if you become irretrievably lost, you can always hop into a cab and have them take you to a familiar station or landmark.

There are more then a few city maps all around so you check where you are at any given time.



I found it really hard to get to lost, even when I wasn't where I should be I still knew roughly where I was i.e. too far south etc..